A Dromore couple are aiming for the mainstream with a new potato vodka.

Husband and wife duo Barbara and Stuart Hughes, who run Hughes Craft Distillery in Lisburn, have launched their RubyBlue Craft Irish Potato Vodka.

It is the first vodka of its kind on the Northern Irish market.

Barbara said: "The vodka was an idea Stuart had a few years ago when we were looking at something more mainstream like vodka and whiskey.

"We thought the market was saturated with whiskies but there did not seem to be anything that was a high quality vodka in Ireland and we had the idea of doing it with potato.

"The mainstream vodka would be made from grains and we thought it was a fun opportunity."

Hughes Craft Distillery's vodka

Initially the pair thought they could not compete with the big brands and the idea was put on the back burner.

"This year we decided we needed to grow and have a mainstream product, none of the big guys are doing this," said Barbara.

"We only launched it last week at Dublin Airport and the feedback has been fantastic. We are delighted when people taste it and they say they think it is the purest vodka they have ever tried. It is 40% so it is strong but very smooth and pure."

The couple, who started the business at home before moving to their business premises three years ago, hope their new vodka will be a hit with local bars and restaurants wanting to promote local products.

"We started our business in 2010 and our main brand is RubyBlue and our four products are fruit liqueur, blackcurrant, cranberry, blueberry and chilli pepper," said Barbara.

"What makes them different is they are made in bottles from the fruit. We do not use any artificial flavours, nothing artificial. Normally they are made from barley. It is really pure, really smooth."